Catoctin Creek Park

Park Hours

• April to October - 8AM to Sunset
• November to March - 8AM to 5PM

Nature Center Hours

• Monday thru Wednesday - Closed
• Thursday thru Saturday - 10AM to 5PM
• Sunday - 12PM to 5PM

Park only in designated parking spots. Do NOT drive or park off of the pavement (unless the overflow parking lot is in use).

The listed coordinates take you to parking. Please read the cache page in full as there is no need to bushwack to the cache.

Catoctin Creek Park is 138 acres of managed parkland in Jefferson, Maryland containing forest, meadow and stream habitats. Within the park is the Catoctin Creek Nature Center, where you can stop in for a trail map, talk to the naturalists, and learn about the local environment and ecosystems. The Nature Center was designed with a vegetated green roof, and a geothermal HVAC system. As an educational facility, it is equipped with classrooms and live animal displays, and hosts frequent group activities aimed toward teaching children about the environment and our care of it. The Park has 2 picnic pavilions, a playground, a sensory trail, several access points to the creek that bounds it (beach, wading & fishing allowed; no boats or vehicle access), and ruins of stone buildings on what was not long ago an operating farm.  

As you search for this cache, please stay on the trails. Many areas of the park are in a re-forestation phase, and with this being a conservation/natural area, we don’t want to disturb any of the wildlife (flora and fauna) that is present. Be aware that some areas of the trails may be very slippery after rains or snow-melt, as well as muddy. Do not go bushwacking for a shortcut - stay on the trails until you are within about 10 feet of the cache - they will lead you right to it without bushwhacking. 

To find the cache:
Start at one of the two red trail (Heritage Grove Trail) trailhead coordinates noted in Additional Waypoints, and head north along this marked loop trail. One is behind the Nature Center, while the other can be accessed via the paved road to Overflow Parking, just north of the parking lot (usually blocked off to vehicles). As you head north, you’ll see ruins of the icehouse and smokehouse - before approaching this fenced area, turn left to stay on the trail.

Soon you will arrive at a stand of old growth trees. Take a moment and let your senses absorb the changes around you - smell the trees, listen to the difference in acoustics, and love the soft path you are now walking. These trees were purposely planted here.

To get coordinates for the hide location, name the type of tree these are. It will be a one word answer, singular form of the word. No capital letters.  (Example would be maple, not red maple.)

You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Now you have final coordinates, and can move on to the final. This is an easy, typical hide for the environment. Sign the log, trade swag or trackables, and don’t forget to make note of the code word you’ll need for CAM.  Then replace everything closed up tight and properly covered up. You can retrace your steps, or continue along the trail to get back to parking.